Snapshot of Chicago Events on July 25

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1994: Attack on CTA Worker

Cecil Calimee, a Chicago Transit Authority worker, was set on fire on July 25, 1994. The incident occurred in the early hours, around 4 a.m., inside a ticket booth at the Blue Line station on Kedzie Avenue and 19th Street. Calimee, a former semipro football player and Farragut basketball coach, suffered burns on his face, chest, and left arm.

1940 Weather Records

The National Weather Service data for Chicago recorded a high temperature of 101 degrees in 1940. A low temperature of 53 degrees was noted in 1911, and 1993 saw 1.22 inches of precipitation. No snowfall was recorded for July 25.

1889: Sea Lions at Lincoln Park Zoo

In July 1889, nineteen sea lions arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo from Santa Barbara, California. Captured and transported by Capt. Cyrus Alvah Eastman, these animals endured a weeklong train journey during which Eastman hand-fed them fish. According to him, the sea lions would quickly adapt to human handlers and eventually eat from their hands. However, complaints arose about the noise created by the sea lions, prompting action from local commissioners.

1942: Foundation of O’Hare International Airport

The genesis of O’Hare International Airport began in 1942 when Douglas Aircraft Co. announced plans for an assembly plant on a 1,347-acre property at Orchard Place. This location, near Mannheim and Higgins roads, south of Des Plaines, saw the dismantling of homes and the leveling of land, paving the way for what would become a major global terminal.

1984: Incident at St. John of God Catholic Church

A gunman entered St. John of God Catholic Church in New City on July 25, 1984, and fired three shots. One bullet struck a “weeping” statue of the Virgin Mary, while the other two lodged in a wall. Despite having 40 people present in the church, no injuries were reported, and the gunman evaded capture.

2018: Naming Ida B. Wells Drive

In 2018, the Chicago City Council renamed Congress Parkway to Ida B. Wells Drive. This significant change honored one of the city’s most influential activists, marking the first time a downtown street was named after a woman of color.